Self-propelled device for cleaning the window and wall surfaces of a building structure



Feb. 4, 1969 F. w. HETMAN 3, ,08

' SELF-PROPELLED DEVICE FOR CLEANING THE WINDOW AND WALL SURFACES OF A BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed May 27, 1966 Sheet of s Era. 1

INVENTOR.

FRANK WHE TMA A! M if Maf/Y T TORNEYS Feb. 4, 1969 F w, HETMAN 3,425,082

.SELF-PROPELLED DEVI CE FOR CLEANING THE WINDOW AND WALL SURFACES OF A BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed May 27, 1966 Sheet 3 of 8 32 6 -1 14 FIG. 2 36 344,

INVENTOR. 4 458 462, FRANK W HETMAA/ BY 452 454 440 M WU ATTORNE Y5 Feb. 4. 1969 F. w. HETMAN 3,425,032 SELF-PROPELLED DEVICE FOR CLEANING THE WINDOW AND WALL SURFACES OF A BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed May 2?, L966 Sheet 4 of a I I 44 3/3? f 4 3 FIG. 4 450 232 "A? m H l h I A 4047 4/ZN" '48 1 /50 FF -,--"38 1 50M; I F482 48 o F 308 52 3 I /488 492,4 s i/y Z 3; \l4-84- 96 1 v 5 7 NN//Z8 a 50 M c Fm. I; N 3/6 36 447 428 F XNVENTOR.

4 v FRANK WHETMAN 446 l v BY 447 M AT TOPNEYS F. W. HETMAN -PROPELLED DEVI 3,425,082 AND Feb. 4, 1969 SELF CE FOR CLEANING THE WINDOW WALL SURFACES OF A BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed May 27, 1966 473 FIG. 14

m @w w m Mm 1M 45 4 mr N M WE R 2 H m w W M v K. l n

F. W. HETMAN 3,425,082 AND SELF-PROPELLED DEVICE FOR CIJEANING THE WINDOW WALL SURFACES OF A BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed Kay 2'7, 1966 Sheet N Y A & 4r =4. m n 3 mH n T W s K w 1 N 4 A 8 U f: 2 J B on M m 2" n 5 m n n 0 J E 73 .G .M 3 I O F 3 450 FIG. .26

.AT TORNEYS United States Patent SELF-FROPELLED DEVICE FOR CLEANING THE WINDOW AND WALL SURFACES OF A BUILD- ING STRUCTURE Frank W. Hetrnan, 124 Paisley Lane, Minneapolis, Minn. 55422 Filed May 27, 1966, Ser. No. 553,351

US. Cl. 1552 Int. Cl. A47] 11/00, 1/02 32 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention relates broadly to a device for cleaning the windows and wall portions between rnullions or extension members of a building structure and more particularly to a device which is self-propelled upon and in connection with the outer surface of the building structure, the device having means for cleaning and drying the windows and/or wall surfaces as the device is moved over the window and wall surfaces.

It is an object of the invention to provide a self-propelled device which engages the mullions or extension members of a building for movement over the outer surfaces of a building. The device includes cleaning means whereby Window and wall surfaces are cleaned automatically as the device is propelled, the device being portable, easily operated and moved from place to place on a building by a single operator.

It will not be here attempted to set forth and indicate all of the various objects and advantages incident to the invention, but other objects and advantages will be referred to in or else will become apparent from that which follows.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, showing by way of example a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

In the drawings forming part of this application:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of the device in operative position between the rnullions of a building structure.

FIGURE 2 is a rear elevational view of the device in the position shown in FIGURE 1, portions thereof being broken away.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the device on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view opposite to that of FIGURE 3 on the line 44 of FIGURE 1 with the drive rollers shown in driving engagement with the flange of a window mullion, the flange being shown in section.

FIGURE 5 is a view on the line 55 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view on the line 77 of FIG- URE 4, portions of which are broken away and showing in particular the driving mechanism for the unit.

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view on the line 8-8 of 3,425,082 Patented Feb. 4, 1969 FIGURE 4, portions of which are broken away and showing in particular the driving mechanism for the unit.

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view on the line 99 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged view of two pairs of opposed drive rollers shown in engagement with the flanges of opposed rnullions, offset slightly on the flanges of the mullions.

FIGURE 11 is a view on the line 1111 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 12 is a sectional view on the line 1212 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 13 is a sectional view on the line 13-13 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 14 is a sectional view on the line 1414 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 15 is a sectional view on the line 15-15 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 16 is a sectional view on the line 1616 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 17 is a perspective view of a guide bolt removed from a drive roller unit.

FIGURE 18 is a vertical section on the line 1818 of FIGURE 13.

FIGURE 19 is a fragmentary front elevational view detail of one of the pivotal squeegee elements of the present invention.

FIGURE 20 is a schematic diagram of the circuitry for operation of the device.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the device A includes the first side support plate 30 and a second side support plate 32 spaced from the first plate 30. The plates 30 and 32 are secured in spaced relation by the right angle transverse bar 34 and the housing element 36 hereinafter described. The second side support plate 32 is formed with the thickened portion 38 acting as a gear mount, particularly FIGURES 3, 7, 8, 9 and 11. The portion 38 is formed with the vertical elongated recess 40, and mounted on the portion 38 is a plurality of spaced gear elements including the gear 42 keyed to the upper shaft 44, the shaft 44 being rotatably mounted in the bearing 46 mounted in the cover plate 48, particularly FIGURES 3, 4, 7 and 11. The gear 42 meshes with the idler gear 50 mounted for rotation on the shaft 52 carried by plate 48 and portion 38 by means of the bearings 54. The idler gear 50 meshes with the gear 56 keyed to the shaft 58 mounted for rotation in the bearings 60 and 62 mounted in the plate 48 and thickened portion 38, respectively.

The gear 56 in turn meshes with the gear 64 keyed to the shaft 66 mounted for rotation on the bearings 68 and 70 mounted in the cover plate 48 and thickened portion 38, respectively. The gear 64 meshes with the gear 72 keyed to the shaft 74 for rotation on the bearings 76 and 78 carried by the cover element 48 and the thickened portion 38, respectively. The gear 72 meshes with the idler gear 80 mounted for rotation on the shaft 82 carried by cover plate 48 and portion 38 by means of bearings 84. The idler gear 80 meshes with the gear 86 keyed to the lower shaft 88 mounted for rotation in the bearing 90.

Fixedly keyed to the outer ends of the shafts 44, 58, 74, 88 are the drive rollers '92, 94, 96 and 98 respectively.

Further provided is the thickened portion 100 substantially identical to the thickened portion 38 and formed on the first side support plate 30. The thickened portion 100 is formed with the vertically elongated recess 102, and mounted on the thickened portion 100 in the recess 102 thereof is a plurality of spaced gear elements including the gear 104 keyed to the opposite end of the shaft 44, the shaft 44 being rotatably mounted in the bearing 106 mounted in the cover plate 108. The gear 104 meshes with the idler gear 110 mounted for rotation on the shaft 3 112 carried by the thickened portion and the plate 108 by means of the bearings 114. The gear 110 meshes with the gear 116 keyed to the shaft 118 for rotation in bearings 120 and 122 carried by the thickened portion 100 and the plate 108, respectively. The gear 116 meshes with the gear 124 keyed to the shaft 126 mounted for rotation in the bearings 128 and 130 carried by the thickened portion 100 and the plate 108, respectively.

Further provided is the gear 132 which meshes wit-h the gear 124 and is keyed to the shaft 134 mounted for rotation in the bearings 136 and 138 mounted in the thickened portion 100 and cover plate 108, respectively. The gear 132 meshes with the idler gear 140 mounted for rotation on the shaft 142 carried by the thickened portion 100 and plate 108 by means of the bearings 144. The gear 140 meshes with the gear 146 keyed to the opposite end of the shaft 88, the shaft mounted for rotation in the bearing 148 carried by the cover plate 108. Fixedly keyed to the outer ends of the shafts 44, 118, 134 and 88 are the drive rollers 150, 152, 154 and 156, respectively.

The numeral 158 designates a first vertically disposed adjustable movable elongated gear carriage, FIGURES 1, 3, 5, 8, 9, 15 and 16 in particular, which has formed therein the elongated recess 160, and rigidly mounted on the gear carriage 158 is the cover plate 162. The carriage 158 is mounted for adjustment relative to the thickened portion 38 by means of the upper and lower holes 164 and 166 extending transversely therethrough and in which are mounted the upper and lower threaded bolts 168 and 170, respectively, representatively shown in FIGURE 17. The inner ends of the bolts 168 and 170 are secured in the thickened portion 38 by means of pins 172 hereinafter described in detail and identical to the construction found in FIGURE 16.

The support plate 32 is recessed as at 174, FIGURES 1, 3, 8, 9, to receive and allow movement of the carriage 158 relative to the thickened portion 38. The upper bolt 168 is provided with the indexed nut 176, and the upper bolt 170 is provided with the indexed nut 178. Each of the bolts 168 and 170 is formed with a notch 180, the purpose of which will be hereinafter set forth.

Further provided is the gear 182 keyed to the shaft 184 mounted for rotation in the bearings 186 and 188 carried by the cover plate 162 and the carriage 158, respectively. Gear 182 meshes with the idler gear 190 mounted for rotation on the shaft 192 by means of the bearings 194, the shaft 192 carried by the cover plate 162 and carriage 158. The idler gear 190 meshes with the gear 196 keyed to the shaft 198 mounted for rotation in the bearings 200 and 202 carried by the plate 162 and the carriage 158. The gear 196 meshes with the gear 204 keyed to the stub drive shaft 206 mounted for rotation in the side support 32 by means of the bearing 208.

The gear 204 meshes with the gear 210 keyed to the shaft 212 mounted for rotation by means of bearings 214 and 216 carried by the cover plate 162 and carriage 158. The gear 210 meshes with the idler gear 218 mounted for rotation on the shaft 220 carried by the cover plate 162 and carriage 158 by means of the bearings 222. The idler gear 218 meshes with the gear 224 keyed to the shaft 226 mounted for rotation by means of bearings 228 and 230 carried by the cover plate 162 and the carriage 158, respectively. Fixedly keyed to the outer ends of the shafts 184, 198, 212 and 226 are the drive rollers 232, 234, 236 and 238, respectively.

Additionally provided is the second vertically disposed adjustable movable elongated gear carriage 240, FIG- .URES l, 4, 5, 8 and 9 in particular, which has formed therein the elongated recess 242, and rigidly mounted on the gear carriage 240 in overlying relation to the recess is the cover plate 244. The second carriage 240 is mounted for adjustment relative to the thickened portion 100 by means of the upper and lower holes 246 and 248, respectively, extending transversely therethrough and in which are mounted the upper and lower threaded bolts 250 and 252, respectively, representatively shown in FIGURE 17. The inner ends of the bolts 250 and 252 are secured in the thickened portion 100 by means of pins 172 identical to the construction shown in FIGURE 16.

The support plate 30 is recessed as at 254, FIGURES l, 4, 8, 9, 15 and 16, to receive and allow movement of the carriage 240 relative to the thickened portion 100, FIGURES 15, 16. The upper bolt 250 is provided with the indexed nut 256, and the lower bolt 252 is provided with the indexed nut 258. Each of the bolts 250 and 252 is formed with a notch 180, identical to that found in bolts 168 and 170, the purpose of which will be hereinafter set forth, and as shown by bolt 168 in particular in FIGURE 17.

Further provided is the gear 260 keyed to the shaft 262 mounted for rotation in the bearings 264 and 266 carried by the cover plate 244 and the carriage 240, respectively. The gear 260 meshes with the idler gear 268 rotatably mounted on the shaft 270 carried by the cover plate 244 and carriage 240 by means of the bearings 272. The gear 268 meshes with the gear 274 keyed to the shaft 276 mounted for rotation in the bearings 278 and 280 carried by the cover plate 244 and the carriage 240, respectively. The gear 274 meshes with the gear 282 which is keyed to the outer end of the drive shaft 284. The gear 282 meshes with the gear 286 keyed to the shaft 288 mounted for rotation in the bearings 290 and 292 carried by the cover plate 244 and the carriage 240. The gear 286 meshes with the idler gear 294 rotatably mounted on the shaft 296 carried by the cover plate 244 and the carriage 240 by means of the bearings 298. The gear 294 meshes with the gear 300 keyed to the shaft 302 mounted for rotation in the bearings 304 and 306 carried by the cover plate 244 and carriage 240. Fixedly keyed to the outer ends of the shafts 262, 276, 288 and 302 are the drive rollers 308, 310, 312 and 314, respectively, which coact with the fixed rollers 150, 152, 154 and 156, respectively to form a first roller drive unit B associated with the first support 30.

The drive rollers 232, 234, 236 and 238 of the carriage 158 coact with the fixed drive rollers 192, 194, 196 and 198, respectively, to form a second roller drive unit C associated with the second support 32.

DRIVE MECHANISM The numeral 316 designates a transmission mounted at one side in the opening 318 of the side support 30 and by means of a plurality of bolts 320. Extending into the transmission 316 is the power output shaft 322, FIGURES 8 and 9, of the electric motor 323. Keyed to the shaft 322 is the worm gear 324 which engages the gear 326 keyed to the shaft 284 to thereby drive the same. The drive shaft 284 is connected to the first coupling sleeve 328 which is connected to one end the common shaft 330 of the conventional dual pumps 332 and 334. Connected to the other end of the shaft 330 is the second coupling sleeve 336 which is connected to the shaft 206 for driving the rollers of movable carriage 158, FIGURE 9 in particular.

Referring to FIGURES 7, 8 and 15, the gear 338 is keyed to the shaft 284 and meshes with the gear 340 of the transmission, the gear 340 fixedly keyed to the inner end of the shaft 126 thereby driving central gear 124 in counter rotation to shaft 284 and 206. Gear 124 drives the gears associated therewith previously described.

As the gears 104 and 146 are rotated by means of gear 124 and the gears meshing therewith, the shafts 44 and 88, respectively are rotated which rotate gears 42 and 86, respectively, which rotate the gears meshing therewith in the recess 40. The upper shaft 44 extends transversely of the unit between the support walls 30 and 32 connecting the gears 42 and 104 and the lower shaft 88 similarly connects the gears 86 and 146.

The side supports 30 and 32 are held in rigid spaced relation by the outer wall portion 344, the top wall portion 346, and the bottom Wall portion 348 of the housing element 36, said outer wall, top and bottom walls being secured to the end supports 30 and 32 by means of rivets or the like to complete the housing which leaves substantially the entire inner face of the unit A open for placement adjacent a Window.

Positioned within the lower end of the device A is the first liquid reservoir 350 extending transversely between the side supports 30 and 32 together with a similar second liquid reservoir 352. Further provided is a shroud 354 which extends transversely between the side supports 30 and 32 to define a chamber 356 communicating with the first reservoir 350. Mounted on the shaft 88 is the cylindrical brush 358 having a diameter to extend outwardly of the open inner face of the device A for pressure engagement with the adjacent surface of the window W as hereinafter more fully described. The position of the shroud 354 and the shaft 88 places the brush 358 in the upper portion of the chamber 356. The position of the shaft 88 determines the radius of the brush 358.

The numeral 360 designates a lower liquid supply outlet pipe which extends transversely of the device between the supports 30 and 32 immediately below the brush, the pipe 360 being mounted on the brackets 362 and 364 at the ends thereof connected to the end supports 30 and 32, respectively. The pipe 360 has formed therein a plurality of spaced outlet holes 366 providing a first supply of liquid each of which is directed angularly upwardly whereby liquid from the pipe 360 strikes the window W at a point directly below the point of contact of the brush 358 with the window. The pump 332 is connected to the outlet pipe 360 by means of the hose 368. The pump 332 is secured to the outer portion 344 of the housing element 36 by means of the bracket 370. The pump 332 receives a supply of fluid from the first reservoir 350 by means of the hose 372 connected to the pump and extending into the-reservoir.

The numeral 374 designates an upper liquid supply outlet pipe which extends transversely of the device between the side support 32 and the housing of the trans mission 316 secured at opposite ends by brackets 376 and 378. Mounted on the pipe 374 at spaced points therealong are a plurality of spray heads 380 which communicate with the interior of the pipe and adapted to spray a second supply of cleaning fluid in the form of a fine mist outwardly and upon a window W or surface adjacent the device A. The pump 334 is connected to the pipe 374 by means of the hose 382. The pump 334 is secured to the outer portion 344 of the housing element 36 by means of the bracket 384. The pump 334 receives a supply of fluid from the second reservoir 352 by means of the hose 386 connected to the pump and extending into the reservoir 352. It will be seen that the shroud 354 also forms a second chamber 388 in which the pumps, upper supply pipe 374 and transmission are located together with other elements which follow.

Further provided is the final liquid pick-up roller 390 which is formed of a sponge-like porous liquid absorbing material and mounted for rotation on the shaft 392 by means of sleeve 393 and the axially spaced bearings 395. The shaft 392 is secured at one end to the bracket 394 pivotally connected at its upper end to the support 30 by means of the bolt 396, particularl FIGURE 6. The bracket 394 is connected to the shaft 392 by means of the nut-equipped threaded pin 398 which is connected to the bracket 394 and extends through a transverse hole in the shaft 392 the details of which are shown in the identical companion bracket 400 illustrated in FIGURES 13 and 14. The bracket 400 is pivotally connected at its upper end to the support 32 by means of the bolt 402, particularly FIGURES 13 and 14, and the bracket 400 is connected to the shaft 392 by means of the nut-equipped threaded pin 404 which is connected to the bracket 400 and extends through a transverse hole in the shaft 392.

The numeral 406 designates a fixed stop for bracket 394 secured to the side support 30 inwardly of the bracket, and the numeral 408 designates a movable stop mounted on the side support 30 outwardly of the bracket 394. The movable pin 408 is a conventional spring urged pin, FIG- URE 18, extending through the wall 30 for temporary removal from the path of the bracket 394 for the purpose hereinafter explained.

Further provided is the fixed stop 410 secured to wall 32, FIGURES 13 and 14, identical to stop 406 for bracket 400, and the movable stop 412 mounted on the side support 32 outwardly of the bracket 400. The pin 412 is identical to pin 408 and is shown in detail in FIGURE 18 and extends through the wall 32 for temporary removal from the path of the bracket 400 for the purpose hereinafter explained. The pins 406 and 410 are in horizontal and vertical alignment as are the pins 408 and 412.

Mounted on and secured to the shaft 44 is the compression drive roller 414 which is a companion roller -for and in pressure engagement with the pick-up roller 390 when the brackets 396 and 400 are in engagement with the respective stops 408 and 412, FIGURES 6, 13 and '14. As the roller 414 is rotated so is the pick-up roller 390. A wiper blade 416 is provided for engagement with the roller 414 at a point on its lower curvature to remove liquid from the drive roller 414 and cause it to drop therefrom into the reservoir 352. The wiper blade 416 is supported by a bracket 418 extending between and secured to side supports 30 and 32.

Further provided is the double lipped flexible transverse stop 420 mounted on the right angular transverse brace 34, FIGURES 2, 6 and 14. The stop 420 catches cleaning liquid emanating from the lower supply pipe 360 and directs the same to the reservoir 350. The stop 420 maintains contact with the window W during operation of the device A.

Additionally provided is the lower transverse flexible squeegee 422 secured to the end of the shroud 354 adjacent the open front of the device A and extending between the side supports 30 and 32 and positioned so as engage the glass W when the device is in operative position.

An intermediate transverse squeegee 424 is provided which extends between the side supports 30 and 32. The squeegee 424 is mounted in an elongated base 426 connected to end brackets 428 and 430, the brackets 428 and 430 being pivotally connected to the side supports 30 and 32, respectively. Connected to the underside of the squeegee base 426 in spaced relation thereto is the transverse deflecting splash plate 432, the spaces 434 allowing liquid to pass from the squeegee 424 onto the plate 433 thence to the reservoir 352, see FIGURES 14, 19 an 6.

An upper and final squeegee 436, FIGURES 2, 6, 13 and 14, is provided which is identical to squeegee 424 in parts thereof and parts supporting the same, and the same includes the deflecting splash plate 438 identical to plate 432. The portions of squeegee 436 and the support therefor identical to those of squeegee 424 have the same reference numeral but accompanied with a prime mark, thus The squeegee 436 operates in the same manner as squeegee 424.

Further provided is the first flexible vertically elongated splash skirt 440 secured by pins 441 in the vertically elongated slot 442 formed in an elongated boss 444 formed on the thickened portion 38 of side support 32 at one side of the open inner end of device A, FIGURES 2, 5, 9 and 12 in particular. Also provided is the second flexible vertically elongated splash skirt 446 secured by pins 447 in the vertically elongated slot 448 formed in the elongated boss 450 on the thickened portion of the side support 30, FIGURES 2, 5, 9 and 15, the skirt 446 being identical to skirt 440 and shown in detail in FIGURE 12. The skirts 440 and 446 extend substantially the length of the device A and cooperate with the transverse stop 420 and the upper squeegee 436 to form a peripheral barrier to collect and contain liquid cleaning fluid within the device. The skirts 440 and 446 are laminated and identical, each including a central rubber core 452, a Teflon outer element 454 for contact with one of the flanges 456 mounting the glass W together with the brass back up member 458 divided into fingers 460, see FIGURES 12 and 13 in particular. Also provided as part of the skirt 440 is the stainless steel support portion 462. The width of the back up member 458 and the support portion 462 is less than the width of the rubber core 452 and Teflon outer element 454 so that the same do not engage the flanges 456. The portions 458 and 462 are arcuate in transverse cross-section so as to maintain the portions 452 and 454 of the skirt turned inwardly of the device.

Each of the drive rollers of the roller drive units B and C includes a hub portion 464 formed with the teeth 466 and the circumferential groove 468, FIGURES 4, 7 and 8. Each drive roller also includes the tire portion 470 which is formed with the annular rib 472 which engages in the groove 468 to prevent axial displacement. The tire portion 470 is also formed with cooperating teeth 474 which mesh with the teeth 466 of the hub 464 to prevent relative rotary displacement. The outer circumferential surface 476 of the drive roller is angularly disposed approximately 3 to the axis of the hub 464 tapering inwardly toward the respective side supports 30 and 32, FIGURES 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15 and 16, the purpose of the taper being hereinafter set forth.

The letters M and MM represent opposed spaced mullions of building structure between which the window W is mounted. The mullion M is formed with the longitudinally extending flange F, and the opposed mullion MM is formed with the longitudinally extending flange FF. It will be seen that the flanges F and FF provide a track means for driving the washer device A and are incorporated in the building structure. Inasmuch as the flanges F and FF and the mullions M and MM thereof together with operations thereof are identical, only flange F and rnullion M and its operation will be described, particularly FIGURES 9 and 10. The flange F extends normal to the flat surface 478 of rnullion M, and the longitudinally extending side surfaces 480 and 482 diverge outwardly from the point of connection with the rnullion, an angle of 3 divergence being found to be satisfactory, said angle being identical to the angle formed by the surface 476 of each drive wheel of the units B and C.

FIGURE 9 shows the normal engagement of the drive rollers with the flanges F and FF, the device A caused to be generally centered as of mullions M and MM due to the engagement of the angular surfaces of the drive wheels of the units B and C upon the angular side surfaces 480 and 482 of the respective flanges. If the device tends to wander horizontally towards rnullion M, for example, as in FIGURE as the unit proceeds on the flanges F and FF, the rolling radius of each drive wheel in unit B increases or expands due to the resiliency of the tires 470 and the assumed position of the tires 470 of the flange F at a point where the flange has less transverse dimension, shown by position indicated as X in broken lines to the position shown as Y in full lines, particularly FIGURE 10. Simultaneously the rolling radius of each of the drive rollers of drive unit C decreases or compresses due to the resiliency of the tires 470 and the assumed position of the tires 470 on the flange FF at a point where the flange has greater transverse dimension, shown by position indicated as Y in full lines from the position shown as X in broken lines. As a result of the slight change of the radii of the resilient tires 470 of the units B and C, the linear speed of the side of the device where the radii of the drive rollers has increased, in the example of FIGURE 10, unit B,

increases while the linear speed of the device decreases slightly on the opposite side thereby driving the device on normal travel centerlines indicated as D and DD, FIGURE 10. If the device on the other hand tends to wander towards rnullion MM the conditions above outlined are reversed and the unit is directed to travel centerlincs D and DD for normal travel.

As the device A moves along the mullions, the bolts 168, 170, 250 and 252 bypass the flanges of the mullions due to the notch of each of the bolts and as representative of such action see FIGURE 16 in particular.

Because of the requirement for resilient drive wheel tires 470 for compressive engagement thereof with the flanges F and FF, the above changing of tire radii accomplishes that heretofore set forth regarding the centering operation of the device A between mullions M and MM.

With the use of substantially non-compressible tires 470, the unit A centers itself due to the wedging action of the tires 470 upon the flanges F and FF tapered in opposite directions.

To prevent excessive displacement or wandering of the device A between the mullions M and MM and any possible engagement therewith and as a corrective measure, there is provided the upper and lower guide rollers 484 and 486, respectively, mounted for rotation on the brackets 488 and 490, respectively, carried by the side support 30. A further pair of upper and lower guide rollers 492 and 494, respectively, are provided and mounted for rotation on the brackets 496 and 498, respectively, the same being carried by the side support 32. All of the guide rollers 484, 486, 492 and 494 extend laterally beyond the drive rollers of the units B and C for rolling corrective contact with a rnullion in the event of excessive displacement of the device A as it travels on the flanges.

As the device A travels upwardly between the mullions M and MM, as more fully described hereinafter, and reaches the top of the portion of the building to be cleaned the same must be reversed for the return to the bottom during which travel the Washing and drying is accomplished. To reverse the driving mechanism and return the device A downwardly On a buliding there is provided an upper limit switch 500 mounted on the upper end of the side support 30 which engages an upper stop element 502 mounted on and extending from the rnullion M, the stop 502 being shown in broken lines only for illustrative purposes, the same being normally positioned at the top of the rnullion course.

As the device A comes to the desired limit of downward travel, a lower limit switch 504 mounted on the lower end of the side support 30 contacts the lower stop 506 shown by broken lines and pivotally connected to and extending from the rnullion M. The stop 506 is pivoted out of the way of the device A when the device is fully lowered for removal from the flanges F and FF, said flanges terminating at points P and PP to permit such removal and insertion of the device, FIGURE 1 in particular.

By way of further description of the drive gears and the chain of drive therefor, the connected shafts 206 and 284 are rotated by gears 324 and 326 of the transmission, and gear 282 mounted on the outward end of shaft 284 rotates gears 274, 286, 268, 294, 260 and 300 of gear carriage 240. Gear 204 mounted on the outer end of shaft 206 rotates gears 196, 210, 190, 218, 182 and 224 of gear carriage 158. Gear 338 on shaft 284 meshes with gear 340 on shaft 126 thereby rotating shaft 126 and the gear 124 mounted on the outer end of shaft 126 rotates gears 116, 132, 110, 140, 104 and 146 of the thickened portion 100. The gear 104 being secured to transverse shaft 44 on one end rotates the shaft 44 and the gear 42 mounted on the opposite end of shaft 44 is thereby rotated. As a result gear 42 rotates gear 50 and gear 50 rotates gear 56 which rotates gear 64 which in turn rotates gear 72 which rotates gear 80 which rotates gear 86 mounted on driven transverse shaft 88. Thus shafts 44 and 88 carry driving power from the upper and lower gears, respectively, of thickened portion 100 over to the upper and lower gears of thickened portion 38, respectively.

OPERATION In using the device A to clean the windows and wall sections between the mullions M and MM of a building structure, the device A is placed between the mullions M and MM and moved upwardly until the rollers of the drive units B and C engage the flanges F and FF thereof. With the drive rollers in the position of FIGURE 1, upon the flanges F and FF, the drive rollers of the units B and C are brought into compressive engagement with the flanges by means of the indexed adjustment nuts 176 and 178 for the unit C and nuts 256 and 258 for the unit B.

As the nuts 256 and 258 are drawn up, for example, the gear carriage 240 and gears thereon are moved toward the stationary thickened portion 100, and the central fixed gear 282 remains in mesh with the adjacent gears 274 and 286 of the carriage 240. Similarly as the nuts 176 and 178 are drawn up, for example, the gear carriage 158 and the gears thereon are moved toward the stationary thickened portion 172 and the central gear 204 remains in mesh with adjacent gears 196 and 210, particularly FIGURES 3, 4, 8 and 11.

The motor 323 is started by closing switch 508, FIG- URE 20, thereby rotating the drive rollers of each of the units B and C in the directions indicated in FIG- URES 3 and 4 which causes the device A to move upwardly on the flanges F and FF, Also, the brush 358 is rotated in the direction of the arrow of FIGURE 6 as the device moves upwardly which brush removes and loosens dirt from the window W and/or wall of the building.

As the device A moves upwardly, the shaft 44 and pressure roller 414 thereon rotates in the direction of the arrow in FIGURE 6 and operates to move the liquid pickup roller 390 from engagement with the glass W by forcing the brackets 394 and 400 to pivot about the pivot connections 396 and 482, respectively, into contact with the respective stop elements 406 and 410, particularly FIGURES 6 and 14. Simultaneously with the above action the squeegee elements 424 and 436 pivot to cause the squeegees to scrape or ride on the uppermost corner edge and not the lower corner edge which is the effective working edge as a squeegee when the device travels downwardly. Thus as the device A travels upwardly only the brush 358 is working.

When the device A reaches the upper intended limits 7 of travel between the mullions, the upper limit switch 500 engages the stop 502 Which reverses the rotation of the motor 323 thereby reversing the direction of rotation of the drive rollers of the units B and C. As a result, the device A is driven downwardly on the flanges F and FF at which time the wet cleaning is effected. At this time the direction of the rotation of the shaft 330 is also reversed to cause rotation of the pumps 332 and 334 in a direction to cause a pumping action so as to pump liquid by means of pump 334 from reservoir 352 to outlet pipe 374 and be sprayed in a mist to the window W. Pump 332 simultaneously pumps liquid from reservoir 350 to lower outlet pipe 360 and out holes 366 thereof and onto window W. The brush 358 utilizes liquid sprayed from pipe 360 via holes 366 to wet-scrub the window W or wall portion as the device travels downwardly. Stop 420 acts to return the water used to reservoir 350, and squeegee 422 cleans the washed surface.

The shroud 354 tends to keep any water in movement within the device directed to reservoir 350. After the preliminary wet brushing and first squeegee action as mentioned, the spray heads 380 deposit a fine mist of water on the window W or wall surface for further cleaning of foreign material from the surface to be cleaned. Squeegee 424 has returned to the position of FIGURE 6 as a result of the downward travel of the device A, and the squeegee 424 acts to remove the liquid sprayed from the heads 380 on the glass W or other surface and return same toward reservoir 352 off the plate 432.

As a further result of the downward travel of the device A the direction of rotation of the pressure roller 414 is reversed of the direction indicated by the arrow of FIG- URE 6 thereby causing the liquid pickup roller 390 to assume the position shown 'by full lines in FIGURES 6 and 14 with the supporting brackets 394 and 400 caused to engage their respective stops 408 and 412, respectively. In this position the pickup roller 390 is pressed against the glass W to pick up cleaning liquid thereon. As the pressure roller 414 rotates and compresses the roller 390, liquid is squeezed from the roller 390 and the same drops to the plate 432 from which it is directed to the reservoir 352. The wiper blade 416 aids in removing water from roller 414 which water also strikes plate 432.

As a final cleaning action the squeegee 436, as a result of the downward movement of the device A, like squeegee 424 is returned to the full line position of FIGURES 6 and 14 and serves to remove any cleaning fluid on W which may be left by roller 390 such liquid collected collects on and rolls off plate 438 from which it is returned to reservoir 352.

As the unit A reaches its lower intended limits of travel, the limit switch 504 contacts the lower stop 506 and the motor is deenergized thereby stopping the drive rollers of the units B and C. The device may then be removed from the mullions by lowering the device A below the limits P and PP of the flanges F and FF. The device may then be moved to a further pair of mullions and the cleaning procedure repeated.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A device for cleaning the outer window and wall surfaces of a building structure comprising:

'(a) support means,

(b) first opposed spaced drive rollers carried by said support means for engagement with a first vertical extension member of a building therebetween,

(0) second opposed spaced drive rollers carried by said support means for engagement with a second vertical extension member of a building therebetween,

(d) means providing a supply of cleaning liquid for application to a building surface carried by said support means,

(e) means for directing cleaning fluid from said supply upon a window and wall surface of a building to be cleaned,

(f) brush means carried by said support means adjacent said fluid directing means,

(g) means for actuating said brush means,

(b) means carried by said support means for collecting liquid deposited on a window by said fluid directing means, and

(i) means carried by said support means for actuating said first and second drive rollers to cause the device to move upon the extensions of a building and over the window and Wall surfaces thereof for cleaning of the same.

2. The device of claim 1 in which:

(a) said support means includes first and second spaced side support members,

(b) means rigidly connecting said side supports,

(0) said first opposed drive rollers mounted on said first side support member, and

(d) said second opposed drive rollers mounted on said second side support.

3. The device of claim 2 in which:

(a) said liquid cleaning supply means includes a reservoir, and

(b) a pump adapted to convey liquid therefrom to said fluid directing means.

4. The device of claim 3 in which:

(a) said fluid directing means includes a plurality of outlet nozzles adapted to direct fluid upon the window and wall surfaces of a building over which the device is moved.

5. The device of claim 4 in which:

(a) said plurality of nozzles is divided into upper and lower nozzles extending transversely of the device.

6. The device of claim 4 in which:

(a) said brush means includes a brush having a cylindrical formation and mounted for rotation on shaft means on said support means.

7. The device of claim 6 in which:

(a) said brush actuating means includes drive means connected to said brush shaft and associated with (b) a motor carried by said support means.

8. The device of claim 7 in which:

(a) said liquid-collecting means includes means for causing said liquid-absorbing roller to be inoperative during one direction of travel of said device and in operative contact with the window and wall surfaces of a building in the opposite direction of travel.

9. The device of claim 7 in which:

(a) said liquid-collecting means includes a liquid-absorbing roller rotatably mounted on said support means for rolling contact with a building window or wall, and

(b) means for rotating said liquid-absorbing roller.

10. The device of claim 9 in which:

(a) said first and second drive roller actuating means includes cooperating gear and shaft means associated therewith, and

(b) a motor carried by said support means and connected to said gear and shaft means for driving of the same.

11. The device of claim 10 in which:

(a) said liquid-collecting means also includes squeegee means carried by said support means adapted to contact the windows and wall surface of a building and remove cleaning liquid therefrom.

12. The device of claim 11 in which:

(a) said liquid-collecting means further includes means for directing liquid collected by said squeegee means from said squeegee means to said liquid supply means.

13. The device of claim 12 in which:

(a) said liquid-collecting means further includes a companion roller in pressure engagement with said liquidabsorbing roller for driving the same and squeezing liquid from said liquid-absorbing roller.

14. The device of claim 13 in which:

(a) said drive roller actuating means further includes means for reversing the same when the device assumes the desired limit of travel on a building in one direction.

15. The device of claim 14 in which:

(a) said liquid-collecting means further includes a first splash skirt mounted on one side of said Support means, and

(b) a second splash skirt mounted on the opposite side of said support means.

16. The device of claim 1 in which:

(a) said liquid cleaning supply means includes areservoir, and

(b) a pump adapted to convey liquid from said reservoir to said liquid directing means.

17. The device of claim 1 in which:

(a) said fluid directing means includes a plurality of outlet nozzles.

18. The device of claim 1 in which:

(a) said brush means includes a brush having a cylindrical formation and mounted on shaft means on said support means for rotation.

19. The device of claim 1 in which:

(a) said brush actuating means includes drive means connected to said brush and associated with (b) a motor carried by said support means.

20. The device of claim 1 in which:

(a) said liquid-collecting means includes a liquid-absorbing roller rotatably mounted on said support means for rolling contact with a building window or wall.

21. The device of claim 20 in which:

(a) said liquid-collecting means also includes squeegee means carried by said support means adapted to contact the window and wall surfaces of a building and remove liquid therefrom.

22. The device of claim 21 in which:

(a) said liquid-collecting means further includes means for directing liquid collected by said squeegee means from said squeegee means to said liquid supply means.

23. The device of claim 22 in which:

(a) said liquid-collecting means further includes a companion roller in pressure engagement with said liquidabsorbing roller for driving the same and squeezing liquid from said liquid-absorbing roller.

24. The device of claim 1 in which:

(a) said first and second drive roller actuating means includes cooperating gear and shaft means associated therewith, and

(b) a motor carried by said support means adapted to drive said gear and shaft means.

25. The device of claim 1 in which:

(a) said first and second drive roller actuating means includes cooperating gear and shaft means associated therewith,

(b) a motor carried by said support means adapted to drive said gear and shaft means,

(c) said drive roller actuating means further including means for reversing the same when the device assumes the desired limit of travel on a building.

26. The device of claim 1 further characterized by:

(a) means carried by said support means and independent of said drive rollers for guiding said device in substantially straight line travel on the vertical extensions of a building.

27. The device of claim 1 in which:

(a) said first opposed spaced drive rollers include means for relatively adjusting the same for regulated pressure engagement with a first vertical extension of a building therebetween, and

(b) said second opposed spaced drive rollers include means for separating and relatively adjusting the same for regulated pressure engagement with a second vertical extension of a building therebetween.

28. The device of claim 27 in which:

(a) the outer periphery of said drive rollers is angularly disposed to the axis thereof for engagement with cooperating angularly disposed surfaces of vertical extension members of a building.

29. The device of claim 1 in which:

(a) said support means includes a housing element.

30. A device for cleaning the window and wall surfaces of a building structure comprising:

(a) support means,

(b) first means carried by said support means for driving engagement with track means incorporated in the building,

(c) second means carried by said support for driving engagement with said track means incorporated in the building,

(d) means providing a supply of cleaning liquid for application to a building surface carried by said support means,

(e) means for directing cleaning fluid from said supply upon a window and wall surface of a building to be cleaned,

(f) surface treating means carried by said support means,

(g) means for actuating said surface treating means,

(h) means carried by said support means for collecting liquid deposited on a window by said fluid directing means, and

(i) means carried by said support means for actuating said first and second driving means to cause the device to move on said track means over the window and wall surfaces thereof for cleaning the same.

31. A device for cleaning the window and wall surfaces of a building structure comprising:

(a) support means,

(b) means carried by said support means for driving engagement with track means incorporated in the building to propel the support means over the window and wall surfaces thereof,

(c) means providing a supply of cleaning liquid for application to a building surface carried by said support means,

((1) means for directing cleaning fluid from said supply upon a window and wall surface of a building to be cleaned,

(e) surface treating means carried by said support means,

(f) means for actuating said surface treating means,

(g) means carried by said support means for collecting liquid deposited on a window by said fiuid directing means, and

(h) means carried by said support means for actuating said driving means to cause the device to move on said track means over the window and wall surfaces thereof for cleaning the same.

32. A device for cleaning the window and wall su: faces of a building structure comprising:

(a) support means,

(b) vertical track means permanently incorporated in a building and extending adjacent the window and wall surfaces thereof,

(0) means carried by said support means for driving engagement with said track means to propel the support means in continuous linear travel successively over the window and wall surfaces disposed one above the other at the various floors of the building, and

(d) means carried by said support means for cleaning the window and wall surfaces of a building as the device moves over the same.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,693,609 11/1954 Briceno 15103 3,344,454 10/ 1967 Mikalson. 1,383,018 6/1921 Peterson. 3,080,592 3/1963 Hassage 15-98 3,163,943 1/1965 Bell 15 -250.11 X 3,298,052 1/ 1967 Wolfe.

FOREIGN PATENTS 250,862 4/ 1964 Australia.

1,350,632 12/1963 France.

EDWARD L. ROBERTS, Primmy Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 15-103 

